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Location notes

Bishops Lydeard is the southern terminus of the West Somerset Railway (WSR), Britain's longest privately owned railway, which runs to Minehead.The station is approximately 7 miles north of the town of Taunton.

Railway type and traffic

A 17 miles preserved railway with 10 excellently restored stations.Mostly ex BR/GWR steam, plus a Class 115 unit, guests are frequent, especially at galas, and the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group, based on the WSR at Williton has a good collection of diesel hydraulics which can often be seen operating on peak Saturdays.

Environment

Bishops Lydeard station is in a sleepy location, on the edge of a small trading estate, open fields surround the western side of the station, and the trading estate is hardly visible.The station can get quite crowded in school holiday time, but most people are very pleasant, and trouble is incredibly rare.The station is supposed to be locked up 15 minutes after the last train of the day arrives, do not get caught out by this if watching the last train shunt it's stock around.

Road directions

The station is located just off the A358 Taunton to Williton road, and is superbly signposted from Taunton, including from Junction 25 of the M5 motorway, but do not go into Bishops Lydeard village, the station is outside of the village, and the entrance is properly signposted.

The car park can get severely crowded on busy days, even the approach roads can be packed, although an overflow car park is sometimes operated at special events on a nearby farmers field, this improves matters.Because of this, the bus may be a better option at peak times.

Toilets are located in the station car park, and there is a very well stocked shop/cafe on the station (make sure you try the delicious sausage rolls), this is open until at least 17:00 most running days, (the books in here can at least take up an hour of your visit!)A pub, post office, shop and other amenities are also available in Bishops Lydeard village.

Accommodation

At least 4 places of accommodation are available in Bishops Lydeard village, Taunton has huge amounts of hotels/B&B's, lots of other places to stay are further up the line as well, some even overlooking the WSR!

Sun Compass

Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
WSR, Bishops Lydeard Station

The sun can seriously affect pictures taken towards the west in the afternoon (the only way to take pictures of trains at the south end of platform 2), and also bear in mind that many engines work tender/bunker first towards the station from Minehead, all Minehead trains should operate "right way round".A reasonably quiet road bridge at the north end of the station provides the best known vantage point at Bishops Lydeard, as do it's steps, do be careful on the bridge, as drivers are known to speed along over this bridge.This bridge also provides a lovely frame for pictures taken towards the north at the north ends of the platforms.Videographers should be in clover here, other visitors being the only real noise concern, unless you on the aforementioned bridge, in which case mild traffic noise could obviously be a slight concern.

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